Mission Impossible (1996) - 8/10

We are quickly approaching the release of the final film in this spy action thriller series. It is an incredible feat for any piece of media to stay relevant over the span of nearly thirty years. Lets start then, with the first film and see why this franchise has survived so long. 

1. Acting 

In big summer blockbuster type movies like this you don't really need to have any heavyweight performances and Mission Impossible doesn't really offer any. All of the acting is well executed and serviceable for the film. 

Of course the star at the heart of this franchise is Tom Cruise. I've never been his biggest fan and his association with Scientology is, at best, troubling. However, he is a bankable Hollywood star and his smarmy charm and somewhat likable arrogance has always bled over into his characters. Ethan Hunt is a perfect fit for Cruise and it is admittedly hard to imagine anyone else in this role. 

I also can appreciate that, even if he isn't the strongest actor, he has an incredible commitment to his action roles. MI was just the tip of the iceberg in terms of stunt work that the series would later become synonymous with, but his physical acting is certainly top notch, even early on.

2. Cinematography 

One early strength of the film is its willingness to play around with camera movements and captivating framing. A simple but cool example early in the film is a split-frame setup centered around an elevator. One half of the screen in the cross section view of an elevator shaft and the other half is the rooms where people wait. It is a cool example of trying to think of outside the box to keep the audience visually engaged. 

The framing of the 'heist' scene is obviously an iconic part of the film as well. The stark white background juxtaposed with the protagonist in all black while being suspended by wires over the ground is an image vividly burned into many film fans memories. 

Another more subtle (but also not) aspect to the imagery for MI was frequent use of dutch angles and other camera tricks to help set tone and tension within the scenes. Not much more to say on that other than it was a noticeable visual effort.

3. Production/Costume Design 

 It's always a little humorous in older movies to see how the production teams tackle trying to design 'high tech' devices. The hacking/internet scenes seem so quaint now, but computers were such a newer commodity at the time that it makes sense. The watches and glasses with cameras in them also seem silly, but given the time period, it was actually a smart foretelling of real world tech that we all use now. 

Another great aspect of this film was the use of those ridiculous- but also ridiculously cool- masks. The prop and VFX team worked closely on this film to determine just how they would implement this aspect of the script and they really pulled it off. It would further be perfected in the sequels but the effects were great even in the beginning of the series.

4. Writing 

I think a strength of MI has always been in its writing. That's not to say this is a particularly advanced piece of literature, but rather a recognition that popcorn blockbusters like these so often put in the bare minimum effort and rely on spectacle. MI has all, if not much more, spectacle that most spy action movies have, but at also tries to imbue the script with a sense of cleverness. 

After all, if you're going to name the film Mission Impossible - then your script should place its characters in crazy situations that can only be resolved by clever or ridiculous actions.  It also isn't shy about having double and triple and even quadruple crosses and red herrings and all the little tricks that make the film twisty enough for the audience to actually pay attention to the plot that lies in between all the explosions.

5. Sound Design 

Danny Elfman's score for Mission Impossible, and his remix of Lalo Schifrin's original theme is yet another iconic contribution to cinema history from the composer. The jaunty mix of orchestral styles helps bring energy and excitement to key moments within the film.

6. Editing 

The sub two hour runtime of the film keeps everything short and sweet for this action film and the edits were well executed and cohesive. The best and most remembered part of this film is the heist scene at CIA headquarters and its for a good reason. The narration helps establish the scene and the stakes, the visuals are some of the best in the whole movie, the editing is quick and entertaining, the camera moves are slick, and the choreography is excellent. Everything comes together perfectly during the scene and the composition of all the great individual parts is elevated greatly by the smart editing.

7. Visual Effects 

A strength of the film is that a lot of what happen on screen is done practically. That doesn't mean that the VFX team had it easy. 

In particular, there was some ambitious shots in this film where VFX really helped sell things. I mentioned the masks earlier, but the entire concept could have so easily fallen on its face if the VFX teams didn't carefully and painstakingly make sure that the reveal shots looked as perfect as possible. 

The zoom shot and transition to the train at the end is also very well done considering the time period. However, this section of the final act also shows its age a bit now- though I imagine at its release, the train top fight sequence and helicopter explosions looked great.

8. Originality or Strength of Adaptation

It was interesting learning a bit about the original TV series that this franchise is based on. I always assumed this was more of an 'inspired by' type of adaptation. However, it seems the film lifts a lot of elements directly from its source such as the opening credits showing clips from the rest of the movie, the IMF agents, the advanced technology, etc. There seems to be a lot more direct adaptation here than I thought and makes me appreciate it a little more. 

Maybe the real strength of the film is trying to update the film for the times. The spy and action films of the 70s and 80s focused a lot on Cold War mentalities and framing. The transition into the 90's then saw a shift of American attention away from the external threat of communism to a more internal threat. I don't think Mission Impossible set out to make any big statements about the world, but it is clearly informed but changing sentiments of the post Cold War America.

9. Stunt Coordination 

While it will still be a lot of time before we see Cruise hanging off the side of actual airplane or spending over 6 minutes underwater, the emphasis on practical and bold stunt work is still evident in this initial adventure. The restaurant fish tank explosion for example, was all done practically and the film greatly benefits from it. For the same reason, the wire work inside the vault is excellently done and is what helps make that sequence so iconic. Cruise's commitment to doing his own stunts and the team that support him are essential to making this a classic movie. 

10. Direction 

Brian De Palma is renowned director that has been working in film for over 50 years. I have no doubt his wealth of knowledge and experience was important in making MI into what it was. However, it is also worth noting that MI represented a final downturn in De Palma's career and level of success. 

Legacy/Final Thoughts

It's crazy how grounded this movie feels considering all the crazy twists, face masks, and helicopters flying through train tunnels. But considering where this series goes in its sequels, this somehow feels like a subtle spy thriller. Mission Impossible is iconic in its own right, but its greatest achievement is establishing the series as a viable franchise capable of stretching multiple decades.